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So, we're here in Japan all safe and sound. Miraculously, we didn’t end up paying excess baggage charges as we all (me in particular!) managed to rejig the gifts across other people’s luggage. Keith and Bob gave us a good send off (and a nice continental breakfast!), and we proceeded to make a beeline for Duty Free as I had reserved their whole supply of Penderyn whisky gift sets! It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t negotiated a discount, so started to bargain with the check-out person who finally gave in and gave us bottles of Brecon Gin and Vodka free, which we haven’t decided whether we will indulge in ourselves or whether they may be good contingency gifts for unexpected acts of kindness!
The flight was a good opportunity to get to know our team and to start what seems to be the beginning of a very carb-heavy diet! We effectively flew across time, and we landed at what would have been 2am (3 am including turning the clocks forward) at home, but it was nearer 11am on Sunday morning in Japan; none of us had slept on the plane.
Tired, sweaty and a bit dazed (laden with heavy luggage and a years’ supply of welsh whisky!); we were overwhelmed by the reception at the airport by the District Govenor, the CEO of Kansai International Airport and 40 other rotarians holding up massive welcome banners with the rotary emblem on it. They all clapped as we came through, grabbed us and began photographing us for about 10 minutes in various poses with various key people.
We were then whisked straight to our amazing hotel (Ana Gate Hotel) where there was a welcome and orientation party – again, overwhelming! There was our first Japanese meal – with sushi, sashimi (raw fish) and tempura (deep fried fish & veg), and a noodle soup. Yummy. More carbs and James had to wait a little longer for his first cigarette – the nicorette lozenges were just not touching the spot.
The flight was a good opportunity to get to know our team and to start what seems to be the beginning of a very carb-heavy diet! We effectively flew across time, and we landed at what would have been 2am (3 am including turning the clocks forward) at home, but it was nearer 11am on Sunday morning in Japan; none of us had slept on the plane.
Tired, sweaty and a bit dazed (laden with heavy luggage and a years’ supply of welsh whisky!); we were overwhelmed by the reception at the airport by the District Govenor, the CEO of Kansai International Airport and 40 other rotarians holding up massive welcome banners with the rotary emblem on it. They all clapped as we came through, grabbed us and began photographing us for about 10 minutes in various poses with various key people.
We were then whisked straight to our amazing hotel (Ana Gate Hotel) where there was a welcome and orientation party – again, overwhelming! There was our first Japanese meal – with sushi, sashimi (raw fish) and tempura (deep fried fish & veg), and a noodle soup. Yummy. More carbs and James had to wait a little longer for his first cigarette – the nicorette lozenges were just not touching the spot.
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The thoughtful team had put a Japanese and Welsh flag up either side of the Rotary banner; they made many speeches welcoming us and thanking us for making the incoming Japanese team so welcome in Wales last year. We sang (badly) the Welsh national anthem which they played on a CD - our first attempt at karaoke of the trip, followed by the Japanese anthem before we sat down to food. We all introduced ourselves; met a lot of the kind people that will be letting us stay with them over the next 4 weeks, and took receipt of a wad of business cards – not to mention smiling for many photos, which seems to be par for the course over the next few weeks….
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We were starting to wobble from sleep deprivation and it was time for some much needed sleep before our dinner date at 7pm, and an opportunity top update the blog and enjoy some crazy Japanese TV!
1 comment:
Hi Steve,
Your trip sounds great! I'm missing Osaka now ...:( You will have a great time in Osaka (overall Japan, of course).
I will attend a Rotary meeting here (Eugene, OR) this Wednesday. I'm not a Rotary scholar anymore, but the president of the club invited me to their meeting :) I really apprecite human networks of Rotarians.
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